KTM 990 Adventure – My Mini Review
Yesterday was the most fun I had in a long time – I took the KTM 990 for a 650 km test ride to Si Sawat. We left BKK at 8 am and got back at 7 pm. Entering the city I road straight to HD-Playground Harley party at Queen Sirikit, walking in smelling like shit after all day of riding.
First impression upon riding the KTM was how light it felt. Although it weight almost identical to the BMW GS & Triumph Tiger; while riding, it felt so much lighter. I couldn’t get over how easy it was for me to flick the bike around, for a huge bike it’s extremely agile. The weight distribution was design extremely well – one uniqueness unlike any other bike is rather than having one gas tank on top of the bike, the 990 has two separate gas tank on the sides resulting in a much lower center of gravity.
Another thing that surprised me was how stable the bike felt at high speed given the fact it has enduro style 21in front wheel fitted with all terrain semi-knobbies tires. I was able to reach top speed of around 210 km/hr and we were entering high-speed corners at around 150-160 km/hr. Not once did I felt the bike wobble or the wheel giving out.
It is useless to compare the KTM 990 to the BMW GS/Triumph Tiger/Ducati Multistrada. That’s because while the other bikes are basically all-rounders, dual-purpose bikes, the 990 is a giant enduro (off-road) bike. The engine/handling/riding position - all feels like an enduro. Because of this – and this is very important - you have to treat it and ride it like an enduro (for example, lean out not lean in).
Although the most comfortable, I never liked the BMW GS, finding it boring an uninspiring. What makes the Tiger special is Triumph legendary triple engine, the torque just keeps on coming. I’m not familiar with the Multistrada so can’t comment. Overall, I would have to say the KTM 990 was the most fun for me to ride. The way you can throw the bike around and how it interacts with you and the road – I had a grin on my face the entire time I was riding it yesterday – it’s just plain fun.
Next week I’m going up to Loei and hopefully will find some dirt-tracks to test out the KTM – this bike was design for off-road purpose and it would be pointless to buy it without seriously taking it off-road.
In the pass I would take my Tiger off-road which is just stupid, the bike is not design for it and I would be falling left and right. Since then I have been looking for a bike that can do it all, take me anywhere, and the KTM 990 is the closes I have found. A bike that can comfortably do 180 km/hr on the highway and at the same time cross rivers/go over desert/ go off the beaten tracks.
The only bad news is I’m gonna have to drain my bank account again.
Sukie
Yesterday was the most fun I had in a long time – I took the KTM 990 for a 650 km test ride to Si Sawat. We left BKK at 8 am and got back at 7 pm. Entering the city I road straight to HD-Playground Harley party at Queen Sirikit, walking in smelling like shit after all day of riding.
First impression upon riding the KTM was how light it felt. Although it weight almost identical to the BMW GS & Triumph Tiger; while riding, it felt so much lighter. I couldn’t get over how easy it was for me to flick the bike around, for a huge bike it’s extremely agile. The weight distribution was design extremely well – one uniqueness unlike any other bike is rather than having one gas tank on top of the bike, the 990 has two separate gas tank on the sides resulting in a much lower center of gravity.
Another thing that surprised me was how stable the bike felt at high speed given the fact it has enduro style 21in front wheel fitted with all terrain semi-knobbies tires. I was able to reach top speed of around 210 km/hr and we were entering high-speed corners at around 150-160 km/hr. Not once did I felt the bike wobble or the wheel giving out.
It is useless to compare the KTM 990 to the BMW GS/Triumph Tiger/Ducati Multistrada. That’s because while the other bikes are basically all-rounders, dual-purpose bikes, the 990 is a giant enduro (off-road) bike. The engine/handling/riding position - all feels like an enduro. Because of this – and this is very important - you have to treat it and ride it like an enduro (for example, lean out not lean in).
Although the most comfortable, I never liked the BMW GS, finding it boring an uninspiring. What makes the Tiger special is Triumph legendary triple engine, the torque just keeps on coming. I’m not familiar with the Multistrada so can’t comment. Overall, I would have to say the KTM 990 was the most fun for me to ride. The way you can throw the bike around and how it interacts with you and the road – I had a grin on my face the entire time I was riding it yesterday – it’s just plain fun.
Next week I’m going up to Loei and hopefully will find some dirt-tracks to test out the KTM – this bike was design for off-road purpose and it would be pointless to buy it without seriously taking it off-road.
In the pass I would take my Tiger off-road which is just stupid, the bike is not design for it and I would be falling left and right. Since then I have been looking for a bike that can do it all, take me anywhere, and the KTM 990 is the closes I have found. A bike that can comfortably do 180 km/hr on the highway and at the same time cross rivers/go over desert/ go off the beaten tracks.
The only bad news is I’m gonna have to drain my bank account again.
Sukie
